New handbook helps citizens to debunk fake news

The battle against fake news has gained a powerful new weapon, with leading experts across the globe penning a free new handbook describing the best ways to combat misinformation.

Is News Corp bad for democracy?

A strong regulatory code to ensure that news media cover a wide range of political perspectives, assess them independently, and promote informed public debate would usefully complement restrictions on any one company being allowed to dominate the market.

The government, rather than Google, could subsidise good journalism

Google and Facebook could soon be forced to pay local commercial media organisations for sharing their content on digital platforms. Making these massive digital platforms pay Australian news publishers might be good politics, but it is odd economics.

A zebra among horses

Netflix is often criticised as a Hollywood-style entertainment behemoth crushing all competition and diminishing local content but a QUT academic says that’s a simplistic view.

Better than a thousand words

Dr Cameron Edmond looks at three narrative visualisations that effectively articulate COVID-19 public health messages.

Will Facebook pull news from its Australian site?

Facebook has announced it will ban publishers and people in Australia from sharing local and international news on Facebook and Instagram if a proposal to force tech giants to pay for news becomes law.

Rethinking data and consent

People may consent to the use of their personal data, without being sufficiently aware or informed of the nature and extent of potential implications.

Could the new ‘tech tax’ save journalism?

Australia could be the first country to support journalism by diverting profits from Facebook and Google using competition law.

Beware disinformation around COVID vaccines

Policymakers, media outlets, social media platforms and vaccine manufacturers should be aware that politically motivated disinformation is only likely to increase as the race for a Covid-19 vaccine intensifies.

Why who gets to tell Australian stories matters

As a democratic society, we are reliant on a strong and representative fourth estate to balance power relations and hold the powerful to account. In a multicultural society, only a more inclusive approach will lead to greater relevance to the population.

Closing the diversity gap in TV news

Australia’s television news media acutely lacks cultural and linguistic diversity, according to new research by four Australian universities in partnership with Media Diversity Australia.

Sharing to social media: Sensationalism or social good?

People should consider the implications of posting images and footage of tragic events online, says UNSW’s Alyce McGovern.